Lightning strikes planes amid Bay Area storm

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Northern California authorities say several planes have been struck by lightning as rain fell on the drought-stricken San Francisco Bay Area.

Alaska Airlines spokesman Bobbie Egan says Alaska Airlines flight 2589, operated by Horizon Air, was on its way to Oakland from Portland, Ore., when it was struck by lightning.

Egan says that planes are designed to withstand lightning strikes and that no one on board was harmed.

The flight landed at Oakland International Airport just before 1 p.m. Monday and was expected to be back in service today.

Federal Aviation Administration public affairs manager Ian Gregor said Monday that five other flights also reported being struck by lightning near San Francisco International Airport between 12 and 1 p.m.